The national voice for local authority law and governance

www.lawingov.org.uk

2-3Left: City Hall, London

Contents

Becoming a local government lawyer 4

Why be a lawyer in local government? 4

What is local government? 5

Types of authority 5

What will the work be like? 6

How do I get into local government? 7

Career profiles 8

How do I find out more? 9

Websites for further information 9

Why be a lawyer in local government?

Local government offers a wealth of

opportunities to develop and become

more than just a lawyer:

• Right from the start you will get high

quality work (including advocacy)

and considerable independence;

• Local authorities are major multi-

functional organisations with a

constant flow of stimulating and high

profile projects;

• You will get all the support you

need allowing you to develop and

progress, through training and

experience;

• You will be playing a crucial role in

the governance and development of

your local area and community;

• Many authorities now work

across several council boundaries,

broadening career and professional

and personal development

opportunities;

• Terms and conditions are excellent,

including generous holiday, flexible

working opportunities and pension

benefits;

• Professional and personal support

from colleagues nationally in Lawyers

in Local Government (LLG), from

your first day;

• There will never be a dull moment!

Local government is a highly exciting and stimulating practice base for a lawyer!

For principal authorities are large multi-functional operations, providing a wide

range of functions, governance and services to benefit local communities.

Local government is also big business accounting for over 24% of total public

expenditure.

So, if you’re looking for a career that will give you all the variety, range, depth and

career stimulation you need, read on!

Becoming a local government lawyer: More than just the law

4-5

What is local government?What is local government?

Types of authority

Local authorities are democratic bodies

established by statute to provide local

governance and a range of public

services e.g. housing, planning, education,

children and adult services, environmental

services, leisure and culture, amongst

many others. Authorities are made

up of members (councillors) who are

elected and officers (employees) who are

appointed on merit.

Different types of authorities have

different functions. However, most career

opportunities will be with ‘principal

authorities’ i.e. those other than parish

and town councils. The stimulating

diversity of authorities can be seen

below:

Unitary authorities: In some parts of

the country (in particular metropolitan

areas like Greater Manchester but

also in various other places) there is

only one tier of local government – a

unitary authority. Examples include:

York City Council, Hull City Council,

Portsmouth City Council and Stoke-on-

Trent City Council.

County councils are responsible for

services across the whole of a county,

including education, transport, planning,

social care, libraries, waste management

and trading standards. Examples include:

Cambridgeshire, Derbyshire, Hampshire,

Essex, Kent and Lancashire.

District and borough councils cover

part of a county council area. They are

usually responsible for services such as

refuse collection and recycling, council

tax collection, leisure and housing.

Examples include West Lancashire,

Broadland, South Northamptonshire

and Tamworth.

The Greater London authority (GLA) was established by the Greater

London Authority Act 1999 and is

a democratically elected strategic

authority consisting of a directly

elected Mayor and an Assembly of 25

elected members.

Parish and town councils: Where

these exist in an area, they are the

smallest tier of local government,

operating below district and borough

councils. Parish or town councils can

be responsible for a number of local

functions, for example running local

sports grounds, community halls and

burial grounds. Examples include: Bury

St. Edmunds Town Council; Otterburn

Parish Council and Sithney Parish

Council.

In addition there are other types

of authority including: Combined authorities, National parks authorities, Fire authorities and

Transport authorities.

What will the work be like?

The scope of local government law is

very wide and the variety makes every

day stimulating.

You could be in court for housing

possessions or sensitive child care

applications. You could be drafting

commercial agreements, e.g. with public

or private sector partners. You might

be dealing with sensitive employment

issues or representing your authority

at a tribunal. You could be helping to

advise members on decisions affecting

the whole area. You might find yourself

on a working group with colleagues from

other public bodies, helping to make

a project happen across a much wider

area than your own authority.

In short, wherever your legal tastes

lie, you’ll find a home for them in local

government.

What skills do I need?

You need to be a good lawyer, with

sound legal instincts. You need an eye

for detail, but in the context of the

bigger picture.

You must be a good communicator at

every level and be able to summarise

concisely broad, complex matters.

You have to be a good team player,

resilient, organised, calm and

professional under pressure and be

quick, effective and accurate in legal

analysis.

However, we know you’re only human,

so there’ll be all the support and training

you need to hone your legal skills.

But you must also be much more

than a lawyer. One of the factors that

makes working in local government

so stimulating is the context: local

authorities are publicly funded, publicly

facing and publicly accountable bodies.

You’ll therefore need to be commercial

in your approach, while engaging all

of your non-legal skills to manage the

political, public relations and financial

aspects of your instructions. A career in

local government offers opportunities to

explore more than just the law.

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All local government appointments are

on merit, so it can be very competitive.

However, proper preparation will

certainly help your chances of getting

the job:

• Getting some work experience will be

a great help – whether in the private

or public sector;

• Read up on local authorities, their

legal foundations and develop an

understanding of the arena in which

they operate;

• Remember to research the authority

you’re applying to – try and

understand the structure of the

authority and the issues currently

facing it. Start with their website and

look at the local and national press;

• If you’re applying for a training

contract or a job in an area of law

you haven’t practised before, try and

develop a broad understanding of

the issues the role would tackle;

• At interview, remember to be

professional, clear, but most of all

be yourself. Your personality is as

valuable (if not more so) in local

government than any other legal

career paths;

• If you’re interviewed, but don’t get

the job, make sure you get feedback

and heed any advice carefully.

Finally, keep your ear to the

ground. Watch the back pages of

the Law Society Gazette and read

Local Government Lawyer (www.

localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk) which

is an excellent online publication

specifically aimed at local government

lawyers. Local Government Lawyer

is also an excellent source of local

government legal news and may well

help with your research for the job.

How do I get into local government?

ALISON MCKANE

Head of Legal Services, London Borough of Lambeth

I qualified as a solicitor in 1983 and began my career in a city of London firm. After qualifying I worked for several years in a small firm of London solicitors, undertaking employment, property and litigation work. I became a salaried partner in 1987. In 1990 I decided to specialise in employment law and joined a large London City firm in their company commercial department.

I joined Lambeth Council in 1995 as an employment lawyer after a period of maternity leave. The work was challenging and varied, working with clients in the Housing, Social Services, Children’s Services and Environment departments and getting to know their services and their business needs. I welcomed the flexible working arrangements and the fantastic camaraderie that you get in a public sector environment. As time went on I managed a wider range of in house legal services including contracts, education and prosecutions and in 2012 I was appointed Head of Legal Services.

I now manage a team of around 70 lawyers, paralegals and support staff. Every day is different, from dashing to court to seek an injunction, to ensuring that the Council’s Constitution is kept up to date, the work is intellectually stimulating, varied and challenging but never boring!

SAFIA MUKADDAM

Trainee Solicitor, Oxford City Council

If you are interested in public law, want to work on a variety of challenging legal disciplines and are keen to hold a high level of responsibility, in a rewarding and supportive environment, I would recommend a local government traineeship.

Having worked for central government departments, I was determined to pursue a legal career in the public sector. Since securing a training contract with Oxford City Council, I have not been disappointed with the quality of training I have received.

There has been a lot to learn about the broad role of the legal practice, to act as the Council’s legal advisors, ensuring it acts lawfully, properly and its best interests are protected.

From day one, I was given my own cases to follow through, although advice and support is always there if I need it. The high level of responsibility starts from taking instructions, to independently researching issues, progressing matters and meeting the expectations of clients.

My role is heavily client facing, as the clients are largely other departments within the Council or other public bodies. There is a strong sense of working across the organisation to achieve a common goal and maintaining good relationships with clients has been effective.

The varied range of work across a breadth of disciplines is unique to life as a local government lawyer.

As a local government trainee, it is rewarding to see the results of my efforts in my surroundings and know that my work directly affects the residents in the City.

Career profiles

BETH FORRESTER

Solcitor, Kent County Council

I entered the law following the LPC and GDL, having previously studied philosophy at the University of Leeds. I worked as a paralegal both during and after the LPC, undertaking voluntary work with a number of NGOs while representing LPC students for the Law Society.

During my training contract at a high street firm in Brighton, I enjoyed seats in family and clinical negligence, as well as private client and residential property. While in Brighton I founded the Sussex Junior Lawyers Division. My joint experience of family work and clinical negligence led me to consider a career in a local authority.

I joined Kent County Council as a newly qualified solicitor in 2011 as a member of the social welfare team. Kent Legal Services has a team of over 125 lawyers with a turnover of £10 million and over 300 clients nationwide. I now undertake child and adult protection work and am developing an interest in coronial law.

I provide training to social workers and foster carers within Kent, have presented at Kent’s annual adult community care conference and am the Junior Lawyers Solicitor representative on the Law Society council.

I find working in the public sector more challenging than in private practice, with excellent supervision, development opportunities and a collaborative atmosphere.

ROMA BIRTLES

Senior Litigation Solicitor, Lancashire County Council

I joined the legal department of Lancashire County Council in 2008 after 16 years in private practice as a personal injury solicitor, the last six being as a high street firm partner. I have to admit I didn’t really know what to expect, but certainly didn’t anticipate the wide variety of work I encountered.

As a Senior Solicitor I supervise a team of lawyers and claims handlers as well as handling my own caseload. Any thoughts that my career at Lancashire County Council would be dominated by highway accident personal injury claims were quickly dispelled on my first day when I was given a caseload of historical abuse claims. I also deal with a broad variety of other matters including alleged human rights breaches, judicial reviews and building claims. However, I’ve also been able to maintain my interest in personal injury matters including some complex and high value claims.

Working in local government has enabled me to experience a huge variety of litigation I would never have encountered in a high street law firm. On occasion I see newspaper reports of cases in which I have been involved and it is always interesting to see how these are covered in the media. All in all, a most stimulating career choice.

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If you have more questions about what working in local government is like,

please e-mail Lawyers in Local Government at: membership@lawingov.org.uk

briefly outlining your query and we will do our best to help.

How do I find out more?

Websites for further information

LLG: www.lawingov.org.uk

Local Government Lawyer: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Local Government Association: www.local.gov.uk

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